I handed the assassin over to Saint Therese on the condition that she leave me alone.
Having already stripped away the assassin's skills and taken their memories as well, I made clear that "I make no guarantees whatsoever regarding the assassin" before handing them over.
What happens after that is none of my concern.
I also left the cleanup here to them.
Ah, I should have made it a condition that not just the Saint herself but the Saint's faction (as I've taken to calling them in my head) must also commit to non-interference with me.
Why is it that good ideas always come to me only after everything's already done?
◇◇◇
At the Commerce Guild.
"Welcome. Oh my, Lord Alan. What brings you here?"
"Miss Sophia. I don't have any particular business, though..."
Miss Sophia is the receptionist at the Commerce Guild.
She was the one who first assisted me when I visited the Commerce Guild for the first time after arriving in the royal capital.
Every time I come to the Commerce Guild, I always end up in her care.
A capable receptionist who always handles her work briskly and efficiently.
"Then please, right this way to the private room."
I don't really have any business here, but is that okay?
◇◇◇
"So, Alan-kun, you look exhausted. What happened?"
The two of us were alone in the private room.
Sophia's tone had also become casual and relaxed.
"Ah, well, how should I put it..."
Come to think of it, why had I come here in the first place?
I didn't even know myself, and I froze up.
Suddenly, Sophia, who had been sitting across from me, slowly stood up and approached.
And then she pulled me into a hug.
"Mmph..."
"This isn't a regular delivery, and it's not a commission either. The fact that you came here must mean something unpleasant happened, right?"
That was right.
My exchange with the Saint had truly exhausted me.
That was why, without thinking, I had drifted to the Commercial Guild without any errand to run.
I hadn't even realized it until Sophia pointed it out.
"Alan, you're always on edge."
"............"
"And yet you keep putting on a face like everything's fine. That's impossible, isn't it? I had a feeling this would happen someday. But there was nothing I could do until you actually came to me like this. So, if you're okay with me, go ahead and let it all out here."
Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.
Ever since I had regained consciousness in this other world, there had been nowhere I could truly rest my heart.
There was no one I could let my guard down around.
Every now and then there were decent people, but for the most part, it felt like everyone around me was trying to attack me, rob me, or kill me.
Because I could deal with obstacles on my own to some degree, I rarely had to rely on anyone else, and I had told myself that was fine.
But I was wrong.
I thought I was fine on my own, but in reality, my mental state was completely broken.
It had probably reached its breaking point during my dealings with the Saint.
And there was someone who had seen through what even I couldn't recognize about myself, and who worried about me.
"Fufu, you really are just a kid after all. You seemed so mature that I was actually relieved."
"Sophia, the truth is, I..."
That was where my words trailed off.
Even in this world of magic and skills, the story of having been reincarnated from another world was completely unthinkable.
"It's all right, you don't have to push yourself. I'll wait until that time comes."
Ah—for me, there truly was a real Saint.
◇◇◇◇◇◇ (End of main text)
Sophia — "Everything went according to plan"
...Or rather, she's the Heroine (planned).
She appeared in chapters 36 and 37.
A noble young lady? Couldn't care less.
Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Phantom Thief Gentleman] [Dark Magic] [Iron Rock Magic] [Holy Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Scorching Magic] [Freezing Magic] [Magic Hand] [Sedation] [Pain Relief] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance] [Flame Spirit's Protection] [Phantom Demon] [Lightning Speed] [Dark Spirit's Protection] [Monstrous Strength] [Thunder God Blade] [Fortune] [Clear Gale Magic] [Humility]
Rank: Gold (Alisa: Gold)
Thank you always for reading 😊